Hiroyuki Nakajima arrived in the A's clubhouse just a few minutes before the team bus was scheduled to depart for Peoria, Ariz., on Tuesday morning. He had to get his uniform and equipment sorted out quickly, but he kept being delayed.

Josh Donaldson bear-hugged him, lifting him off the ground. Players kept coming up to greet him, shake his hand, shouting welcomes of "Hiro!"

It was the first appearance with the big-leaguers for the obviously popular Nakajima in almost a year, which is not exactly how the script was supposed to go.

Nakajima, a big star in Japan, signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the A's before last season and was penciled in as the team's starting shortstop. He gave a charming performance in an introductory news conference, calling general manager Billy Beane "sexy and cool." There was expected to be another flood of Japanese media in the Coliseum press box to cover Nakajima. The signing was considered a coup at the time - the Yankees had originally bid on his major-league rights and, when they couldn't come to an agreement, the A's were excited to land Nakajima.

But something got lost in the translation. Nakajima struggled to adapt to American baseball, especially defensively. Jed Lowrie, acquired in a February trade, won the starting job, and Nakajima, who also suffered a hamstring injury, got a one-way ticket to Sacramento.

"He came into a situation that I'm sure he didn't plan for," River Cats manager Steve Scarsone said. "It can be humbling. But he was outstanding. He applied himself to all parts of the game. He was the opposite of a player like (pitcher) Hideki Okajima, who was not happy in the minor leagues and didn't care who knew it."

Now Nakajima, 31, is getting another chance because of the injury to red-hot prospect Addison Russell, who strained his hamstring against the Dodgers on Monday and is expected to be out at least a week. Nakajima got the call from minor-league camp. Bob Melvin said he was looking forward to seeing how Nakajima has progressed since last spring.

On Tuesday, Nakajima - wearing No. 74 - entered the game against the Padres in the bottom of the seventh inning. A ball that was ruled a hit glanced off his glove, and he caught a liner. He didn't have an at-bat.

Few Japanese infielders have successfully transitioned to the American game. One theory is that the move from Japan's Astroturf fields to grass is difficult and that Japanese players don't learn to be as aggressive defensively. Scarsone said that another theory is that the Japanese game relies less on power and more on bunting, so infielders don't field as many sharply hit balls.

In Sacramento, Nakajima hit .283 in just 90 games, off his career average of .302 with the Seibu Lions and with far less power. Nakajima hit four home runs with Sacramento; in Japan he hit 162 over 10 seasons. Melvin said that the report on Nakajima was that, in Japan, he studied pitchers carefully. The A's manager thinks Nakajima may be more comfortable now that he's gained more familiarity with opponents and how they pitch to him. And that he may just be more comfortable in general, after a season in the United States.

"You would think anybody would be a little bit more comfortable now," Melvin said. "And would have a better chance to succeed."

The River Cats moved Nakajima around defensively. He played 28 games at shortstop, 37 at third base and 19 at second base.

"The thought process was that if he got back to Oakland, it would be a utility situation," Scarsone said.

Melvin indicated that remains a long shot.

"There would probably have to be some injuries to guys we have here," Melvin said. "But who knows? Anything could happen in baseball, and I think he realizes that. That's why he's here working as hard as he is and trying to get back to the big leagues."

The A's have been impressed with Nakajima's attitude. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster in August, and there was some question whether he would even be back in the States.

"For him to come back and be a minor-leaguer this year, that's pretty impressive," Melvin said. "I'm sure he could have gone back to Japan and played, but he wants to prove himself here."

Vogt said he saw nothing but a great attitude from Nakajima in Sacramento.

"I'm sure that deep down he didn't want to be in Triple-A, that he wanted to be in the big leagues," Vogt said. "But he was the same guy every day, trying to get better, putting the work in."

Through a translator who arrived with him in the A's clubhouse, Nakajima said he was happy to be back.

"I learned a lot about American baseball," Nakajima said. "I got used to everything, not only on the field but off the field. The lifestyle."